The World Bank and Grammy Award-winning singer Shakira teamed up Monday in a 300-million-dollar (S$424 million) joint initiative aimed at helping young children in Latin America and the Caribbean.

World Bank president Robert Zoellick and the Colombian artist, representing her ALAS Foundation, signed an agreement launching the “Early Childhood Initiative: An Investment for Life” at the bank’s Washington headquarters.The partnership agreement also included Columbia University’s Earth Institute.